Tapes to Buy While Prices Are High

[Beck]

Sounds like it could be a good deal if you know the history of the tape. I generally avoid used tape though. Some 996 has heavier than normal shedding, but it’s not a binder breakdown like sticky-shed. You just have to clean the tape path more often. The more a tape sheds the more wear on the heads.

 

[Han]

Sounds like it could be a good deal if you know the history of the tape. I generally avoid used tape though. Some 996 has heavier than normal shedding, but it’s not a binder breakdown like sticky-shed. You just have to clean the tape path more often. The more a tape sheds the more wear on the heads.

The guy was at my place yesterday and brought two of the tapes for examening. There was quite some shedding of oxide so you were right about that.

The tapes are stored at a place and he has to pay €20 per month for that, so he wants to get rid of the 100 tapes. The alternative is dumping them as litter, so it seems I can get them for free.

 

[Beck]

The guy was at my place yesterday and brought two of the tapes for examening. There was quite some shedding of oxide so you were right about that.

The tapes are stored at a place and he has to pay €20 per month for that, so he wants to get rid of the 100 tapes. The alternative is dumping them as litter, so it seems I can get them for free.

You can't beat free... especially if the tape is on the gold 6-screw precision reels. Those are worth quite a bit even without the tape.

 

[geetarplayer27]

New Analog Tape - ATR

The big studios in Los Angeles are starting to use the new tape made by ATR and they're loving it! It's pretty expensive, but everyone that listens to it says it's worth every penny.

I have plenty of 1/2'' and 2'' in stock. Hit me up if you're interested.

dane@recordingdataservice.com

 

[pknute]

The bias on my new Revox A700 4 track purchased in 1974 was set for Scotch 207 tape. At the same time, I purchased 20 3600 foot boxed 207 on hubs, not reels, since I got in the practice of "assembling" the metal reels on professional machines while doing studio work.

Music got placed on the back burner for many years while I lived in Utah and focused my full attention on skiing in the winter and fly fishing in the summer. Now that I'm retired and living in Mobile, Alabama, I've dedicated one large room as my music only room and finally got around to setting up my sound system again after 25 years of silence.

All 20 boxes of 207 tape withstood the test of time quite well. I've played 10 of them on the A700 with recordings of direct to disk masters from the 70's and the sound quality is excellent both when played via my Audio Research SP3A preamp and two D75 amps to RTR 280 DR speakers and via my Stax SRX MK 3's powered by a custom Futterman "stax" tube amp. No sticky-shed, no dropouts and no abnormal oxide deposits on the heads.

The one reel I have recorded thus far produced excellent results as well. But now that Scotch 207 is ancient history execpt rare NOS, used and often abused tape, what are the non-sticky shed alternatives suitable for a recorder with bias set for Scotch 207?

 

[cjacek]

what are the non-sticky shed alternatives suitable for a recorder with bias set for Scotch 207?

1mil alternatives to 207 (+3 tape): Maxell UD 35, UD XL 35 (+3 tape), Quantegy 407 (+3 tape), 457 (+6 tape), BASF / EMTEC / RMGI LPR35 (+6 tape). Only RMGI LPR35 is currently manufactored, while the others are only available (mostly) on eBay as new-old-stock. Less important is level (+3 vs +6) than the fact that all of the above share the same bias. None of these have sticky shed and can be successfully used in place of 207.

-----

 

[pknute]

1mil alternatives to 207 (+3 tape): Maxell UD 35, UD XL 35 (+3 tape), Quantegy 407 (+3 tape), 457 (+6 tape), BASF / EMTEC / RMGI LPR35 (+6 tape). Only RMGI LPR35 is currently manufactored, while the others are only available (mostly) on eBay as new-old-stock. Less important is level (+3 vs +6) than the fact that all of the above share the same bias. None of these have sticky shed and can be successfully used in place of 207.

-----

cjacek:

Thanks for the info.

 

[trancedental]

Bump this up lots of important information in this thread!

 

[pknute]

What was Scotch 209 recording tape developed for? Apparently introduced in 1972, was it supposed to be an improvement on 206/207 or what? I've been using 206/207 since the early 70's and had never even heard of 208/209 until recently seeing it on eBay.

 

[Beck]

What was Scotch 209 recording tape developed for? Apparently introduced in 1972, was it supposed to be an improvement on 206/207 or what? I've been using 206/207 since the early 70's and had never even heard of 208/209 until recently seeing it on eBay.

208 is similar to 206, but it's a low-print type made for use with Nagra recorders. Quantegy acquired 3M Magnetics Division in 1996. 3M 208 more or less survives in Quantegy 408.

208 isn’t really a new and improved 206. I would keep using 206 or Quantegy 406.

 

[trancedental]

Here's some information for Zonal tape types to add to this thread

Seems to be only available in 1/4" at present

Zonal 830 - Compatible with Ampex / Quantegy 406 / BASF 528

Zonal 840 - Compatible with RMG / EMTEC LPR35 & Ampex / Quantegy 407

Zonal 700 - Compatible with Ampex / Quantegy 456 BASF / EMTEC RMG 911

Zonal 675 - Compatible with AGFA / BASF / EMTEC RMG 468 Ampex / Quantegy 478

http://www.canford.co.uk/ProductResources/ig/2804.pdf

Bump!

 

[haroldaj]

Scotch 215

Hi guys, I was just absorbing information when I noticed there was no definitive answer on scotch 215. Looking at maybe buying a case mostly unused, What do you think??

 

[shedshrine]

41 10" reels of 1/4" for 10$ ea and under..

http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=66129

 

[dodgeaspen]

This should be another sticky. Lots of good info. I missed it the first time.

 

[evm1024]

How about ATR magnetics

I've decided to use ATR magnetics tape for all my mastering and site recording. On one hand this is a +10 tape so if your machine can drive it you will have a lower noise floor. and on the other if you set it for +6 you will have huge headroom.

I understand (but have not checked) that the bias requirements is less than other +9 tapes (like gp9) and is more likely to bias up on decks like the 38. I'll check that out soon.

There is some concern about wear caused by the stiffer tape. I'm tending to ignore that as that I really don't run tape through the machines 24/7. My guess is that even with accelerated wear my usage patterns might mean the difference between 7 years use vs 5 years. YMMV

One nice thing is that 1/4" pancakes case $30 and 1/2" pancakes cost $58 each. I have a number of hubs to load the tape on.

Also, you can buy ATR logo stickers for $1 to put on your reels!

Just a thought.....

RMGI pancakes from Splicit are:

900 1/2" $60
900 1/4" $26

911 1/2" $56
911 1/4" $27

--Ethan

 

[Dr ZEE]

I'm tending to ignore that ...

--Ethan

I am not tending. I am straightforward ignoring it (I mean, - that) .

 

[EV 676]

Bumping this

I'm bumping this because I just found 40 NOS pancakes of 1/4" BASF-AFGA PEM 468 circa 1991 and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.

Also have 10 5" reels of Ampex 407 still in the shrink wrap.

All of it was properly stored but you never know!

Looks like I'll clean up the Studers and fastwind one of each a few times and see where I stand!

 

[Beck]

I'm bumping this because I just found 40 NOS pancakes of 1/4" BASF-AFGA PEM 468 circa 1991 and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.

Also have 10 5" reels of Ampex 407 still in the shrink wrap.

All of it was properly stored but you never know!

Looks like I'll clean up the Studers and fastwind one of each a few times and see where I stand!

No test needed...

The 468 will be perfect -- as new... nice find!

The 407 will depend on the year it was made. A test may show no problems, but if the 407 you have was made before late 1994 it will eventually succumb to sticky-shed to some degree... the severity ranges from a loss of high frequency capacity to falling apart all over your machine. Only way to know for sure is to check the date code on the edge of the box. Another way to get a less than 100% idea of what you have is to recognize the differences in box style from different eras.

Post the date code from the white label and/or post a pic of the front of the 407 box and we can tell you. Are they all the same style box?

 

[EV 676]

Ampex 407

Here's what happened when I threaded the "NOS" Ampex 407 onto a REVOX C-270. I pressed play and 2 1/2 minutes later, what a mess.

 

[Beck]

BUMP!!! Since prices are still too high and are getting higher.